Transfer of leadership. Numbers 27:16-17. “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.”
God is the God of all people. He is the Searcher of everyone's spirits. No part of a person's life escapes His full scrutiny. He is the “God of the spirits of all flesh.” Everything is openly laid bare before Him, who judges, recognizes, reveals, and rewards as He determines fit.
God knows who is capable, available, and willing for the highest calling a man can have – leading God’s people. He can lift the spirits of men to prepare them for the most demanding work. To stand before the Lord’s people and lead them wisely in war and peace is not a task for the novice or the untrained. The mixture of human flesh and the spirit of a man can only function properly when the divine nature that has been given is operating under the guidance of Divine Persons.
To feed God’s people, one must be nourished himself. To guide God’s people effectively, one must have experienced guidance. To direct others properly to suitable places, one must have been directed himself. To oversee the actions and work of others, one must be controlled in a way that only a focused person committed to his Lord has been in the past. Helping others make wise choices that prevent the Lord’s people from following every temptation means his goals are clear, and he is not easily influenced by popular opinion.
Someone called by God to lead is usually seen as someone older who understands the seriousness of leadership on the shoulders and hearts of those God has chosen. His spiritual life will be well-ordered because he has practiced enough to influence his decisions. Past leaders will see him as someone trustworthy who has been given a responsibility to fulfill. His faithfulness to tasks has been tested and proven in smaller roles, and now he is prepared to handle more significant responsibilities.
The person who will step out before God's people to defend them has proven his courage. He will not boast of his achievements but will recognize the presence of God with him and will give God all the glory for any success. His faithfulness is unquestionable. Although he has made mistakes, he has learned from them and is willing to make the necessary changes in his life so they do not happen again. When he takes responsibility, he does so with humility and confidence in the God he has come to trust and continue to trust more each day.
The transfer of leadership over time will clearly be divinely inspired and will take place in the presence of God’s people, so nobody will be caught off guard. The consistent testimony and actions of a leader who will care for and guide like a shepherd will encourage the flock to follow without many questions. He is not leading as a conquering king but as a shepherd over sheep who need a leader. He will know where the green pastures are and where to find the still waters for those in his care. When such a man as “Joshua” is found, commit yourself to him and involve him in the work so he can transition from servant to shepherd with minimal difficulty.